Cannabis Users Want Better Warning Labels That Actually Educate Rather Than Scare | Research

The takeaway

In focus groups, cannabis users said they never notice current warning labels and want warnings that inform about safe use rather than simply cautioning against all use.

Cannabis regulators, public health communicators, product packaging designers, harm reduction advocates.

Users reported never noticing existing warnings

What the researchers found

In six focus groups with 36 U.S. cannabis users, three key themes emerged: participants saw warnings as tools for education about safe use, not deterrence; they reported never noticing existing warnings on cannabis packages; and they were already aware of both benefits and risks. Participants wanted attention-grabbing designs with warning icons and content about specific health risks rather than generic cautions.

Why it matters

Billions have been invested in cannabis legalization infrastructure, but the warning labels that accompany legal products are largely invisible and ineffective. This study provides direct consumer input on what would actually work, a crucial step for developing evidence-based cannabis communication.

The numbers in context

36 participants across 6 focus groups. 50% White, 22% Black/African American, 28% other races. Mean age 30.5 years. Average cannabis use 3.7 of past 7 days.

How the study worked

Six virtual focus groups with 36 U.S. adults (21+) who used cannabis in the past 30 days and lived in states with legalized recreational cannabis (March-April 2023). Participants were shown existing state warnings and novel warnings created by the research team. Thematic analysis was conducted using ATLAS.ti.

What this study cannot tell us

Small qualitative sample (N=36). Only included adults 21+ in legal states. Self-selected participants may be more engaged with cannabis culture. Focus groups cannot measure behavioral impact of improved warnings. Did not test whether improved warnings actually change behavior.

How to read the evidence

Preliminary: small qualitative study providing consumer insights but no behavioral outcome data.

When this study was published

2025 study (data from 2023)

The bigger picture

Cannabis warning labels lag far behind tobacco, where decades of research have produced increasingly effective warnings. This study suggests the cannabis industry could learn from tobacco's evolution: move from small text warnings no one reads to prominent, specific health information that respects consumers' intelligence.

Questions still open

Would attention-grabbing cannabis warnings reduce problematic use? Should warnings differ by product type or THC concentration? Could educational warnings improve safe use practices even among experienced users?

Common questions

Do people read cannabis warning labels?

Participants in this study uniformly reported never noticing existing warnings on cannabis packaging, suggesting current labels are ineffective.

What kind of cannabis warnings would work?

Users wanted warnings with attention-grabbing designs, warning icons or symbols, and specific health information that educates about safe use rather than simply telling people not to use.

Read the original research

Perceptions of cannabis warnings and recommendations for improvement: a qualitative study with people who use cannabis from the United States.

BMC public health, 25(1), 2363

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Ranney, Leah M; Clark, Sonia A; Meek, Caroline J; Jarman, Kristen L; Kowitt, Sarah D. (2025). Perceptions of cannabis warnings and recommendations for improvement: a qualitative study with people who use cannabis from the United States.. BMC public health, 25(1), 2363. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23518-1